Sources of inspiration: New York Yay! Series // fabric // postcards // home decor

I was a dreamer at 15. I wanted to go and see the world and luckily my father supported the idea of studying abroad for a year. Just before my 16th birthday I took off on my first trip to the United States. Where I crisscrossed the country. We took a long walk to the Golden Gate Bridge. Ate a one foot high sandwich in Salt lake city. Yes that is to be considered huge in Holland… We crashed at some awesome peoples home in Atlanta and we went to see New York. It was the first trip that made me realize I wanted to see the world.



Although I never went back until last year this country is my first taste of traveling. Letting go of what you know. Go with the flow and pick up the different energy while moving from place to place. Enjoy simple every day things and go back home appreciating what you take for granted.

This year, after receiving Shutterstocks Grant Prize I decided to go back to New York. Working for a company that invited me to come and see the new Empire State Building office, it was all work no play of course.

I love the buzzing streets of New York, where your eye gets drawn to the high architecture and people are in a constant state of hurry, but also enjoy life in little moments by themselves in a park or coffee shop. The city surprised me: I always have this sense of restlessness within me, but when I visited New York, I felt this sense of easygoing peace and calm, like I was home. It's also visually mind-blowing. Street art and high-end designer shops go hand in hand. NYC is the ultimate destination for a designer like me, where constant movement is inescapable, there's room for both culture and business, and, if you set your mind to it, everything seems possible. A multicultural melting pot, which I love.



I love traveling alone and getting lost in places I have never been before. I stumbled upon an expo of graduation students, met some interesting young artists with amazing refreshing work. Goosebumps people! Another stroll from my loft to the high line brought me through the romantic streets of the West Village with it's beautiful brown stones with the typical soundtrack of New York in the back: spring sparrows. An old lady walked by and told me luck would be coming my way... It had already found me.

After I came back from this trip I have been making some new US and New York themes. Some for fabric, some for my pug loving friends back in Brooklyn and a new series for iphone cases and postcards. I still have to create so many things though. So yes, I call them my New York Yay series.

Finished projects made by customers // DIY passport cover // Baby nursery home // Lion dinner set for kids

After a lot of hard work it is lovely to see finished items. Sometimes it can take up to a year before we get to see the final result. Here is a little piece about some of the great ways Little Smilemakers designs are used by clients and fabric customers.



There are quite some travel themes in the Little Smilemakers fabric collection. For asian themes to New York inspired illustrated patterns. A Spoonflower customer send us this little passport case photo this week. And as travel addicts we love to see this travel themed finished project made with Little Smilemakers New York City fabric available at Spoonflower.



La Millou has a range of Little Smilemakers designs in their nursery collection. The hipster design, the Parisien design, Foxes and one of our all time favorites is the Toucan Birds design. A colorful patchwork style print for both boys and girls. The print is available on blankets, pillows, little hats and lot's more!

For Triple 8 Design Studios in Australia we have worked on some cute bamboo fibre biodegradable dinner sets. One with Lions but also one with cute little dinosaurs. So much fun to have these on your kids breakfast table! And after these there is even more to come.

We are always excited to see the result! So if you have been working with Little Smilemakers fabric or if you have some fun items to show that are in your little kids bedroom or in your household please share your Little Smilemakers via the facebook page.

Live on the Shutterstock Blog // 5 Must-See Global Destinations for a Great Boost of Inspiration

As mentioned in an earlier post I have been working on a piece for Shutterstock's blog. 5 must see places that inspired me to create. ! Havana, New York, Costa Rica, Berlin and of course my beloved India. How is that for a kick off? Enjoy reading!

> New York, New York

Little Smilemakers illustrations and patterns are available at Shutterstock for 7 years already. And after winning the Grant Jury Prize with a short Artist 'behind the scenes' for Shutterstock Stories last fall, it was about time to visit the new Shutterstock office. So this week the Little Smilemakers Studio moved into a little loft in SoHo. We'll be hanging out the Empire State Building to catch up with some peeps in the brand new Shutterstock office. Did you know they have an Alice in Wonderland room? Not a bad place to get creative!

> New York | London | Food & Summer designs | Exclusive work | Surtex 2014

In a week New York will be hosting Surtex 2014. I am very excited to let you know we have been working on a large new exclusive series of images. Here you can see a little sneak peek. New vintage series with crafty themes and icons of the road illustrations. But also travel inspired designs with new themes like New York City & London. And ofcourse for all foodies: some sweet fruit designs and popsicles. Yes, all set for this new warm summer season!

> A little note about licensing & using pattern designs from stock | Buying from stock or directly via Little Smilemakers Studio

A little note for all of you that are thinking about using Little Smilemakers designs from Shutterstock. PLEASE READ the license agreement on the Shutterstock website and make sure you know what the restrictions for using our work on commercial projects. Make sure you have the right license! Even if you download an enhanced licensed design, still there are some restrictions on how to use the artwork.

If you have any questions about how to use Little Smilemakers designs for your product feel free to contact me before downloading.

> Travel icons of the road | New designs for fabric & Wallpaper | Up for licensing before Surtex New York

After two months of hard work it was about time to book another trip to boost our inspiration. We have been making new travel themes designs for exclusive licensing in the mean time. If you are looking for some colorful, retro style, quirky designs visit the Artwork section on Little Smilemakers website. All designs shown there are available for commercial usage. Please send us a message to find out how to use Little Smilemakers designs for your products and get them just before Surtex.

Artwork by Maaike Boot | Little Smilemakers Studio

> Finished project | New iphone case collection online | FREE shipping thru April 14 | Little Smilemakers Studio on Society 6

A whole bunch of new surface pattern designs by Little Smilemakers Studio are now also available as iphone case or laptop or ipad cover. Working hard to get all cute illustrated patterns online before the 14th. To be a bit more clear: Some cute green dinosaurs and palmtrees, butterflies with floral patchwork, owl and flower patchwork and a cute China themed icons and illustrations typography pattern.

Free shipping thru April 14! So go to the Little Smilemakers store and shop online at Society 6. Let me know which one you like most! And if you would like to get updated about new designs and prints: check the Little Smilemakers Studio facebook page, like & share!

> Valentine's day - I love New York | Fashionable illustrated map of Manhattan | Online postcard and personal love notes!

Romantic days are coming. What about a short trip to New York? Maybe that would be too bold but you can surprise your loved one with a cute Manhattan gift. An adorable New York typography decorated iphone case, or a pastel colored pillow to put in your Valentine bedroom. Check out all New York inspired surface patterns and designs and enjoy all special Valentine's day offers!

Of course you can also send out a cute Valentine note to your loved one via an online postcard service like Kaartje2Go. Online postcard services are still booming. So many people send out these paper cards by using online postcard websites. Kaartje2Go is the leading website for Holland. You can send out your first card for free. And you can use your own personal handwriting if you would like to send out a more personal postcard. Check out all sweet Love cards in our Little Smilemakers shop. You can find cute typography patterned cards, retro illustrated ones but also some really cute graphic designs with typography and abstract photography combined in one special piece of art. Take a look and enjoy your Valentine's day!